Barge and hitch therefor



Aug. 20, 1968 L. E. BOLDERY 3,397,667

BARGE AND HITCH THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 INVENTOR. LUTHER E. BOLDERY ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1968 E. BOLDERY BARGE AND HITCH THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 INVENTOR.

:k w 86 I26 LUTHER E. BOLDERY Fig. 7

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,667 BARGE AND HITCH THEREFOR Luther E. Boldery, Bedford, Ky., assignor of one-half to Fred M. Sturm, Lexington, Ind. Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 589,058 13 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A barge having pairs of timberheads along its sides adjacent its bow and stern with a side hitch mounted adjacent each pair of said timberheads. Timberheads are also mounted along its bow and stern, and an end hitch is mounted adjacent said timberheads. Each side hitch has an elongated arm provided with recesses at its outer end and a pair of swingably mounted plates having recesses at their outer ends which, when the plates are in closed locking position define a pair of openings which cooperate with the arm vrecesses for lockingly engaging a pair of timberheads on an adjacent barge. Each end hitch comprises an am having a pair of plates swingably mounted thereon and provided with recesses at their outer ends which, when the plates are in closed locking position, define an opening for lockingly engaging a timberhead on an adjacent barge. Means are provided on the arms of each of the side and end hitches for moving the plates thereon between an open position in which the plate recesses are in spaced relation for reception of a timberhead and a closed locking position in which they are locked around a timberhead.

This invention relates to a barge, and more particularly to a barge having a plurality of hitches mounted thereon for connecting it to other barges.

It is an object of the invention to provide a barge which can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected to other barges, which can be connected to such other barges along any of its sides and ends, and which can be connected to such other barges having different drafts. It is a further object of the invention to provide a hitch for a barge which can be automatically moved into a closed position, which can be releasably retained in said closed position, and which can be quickly and easily released from said closed position.

According to the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a barge having a hull provided along each of its sides with pairs of upwardly projecting timberheads. A side hitch is mounted on the hull adjacent each pair of timberheads and comprises an elongated arm swingably interconnected to the hull and supporting a pair of lock plates. Each of said lock plates is provided with recesses adjacent its opposed ends and said plates are swingably mounted on the arm for movement between a closed position in which their ends are disposed immediately adjacent each other and said recesses cooperate to define a pair of openings extending through the hitch and an open position in which said ends are spaced from each other. The arm is also provided with a pair of recesses in spaced relation to the plates so that when the barge is moved alongside of another barge, one of the arm recesses will engage one of a pair of timberheads on the other barge to swing the hitch inwardly toward said other barge until the plates engage a second timberhead on the other barge and swing to their open position to receive the second timberhead between a pair of their recesses, whereupon said plates can move to their closed position and said second timberhead will be lockingly received in one of the openings defined by the plate recesses. Means are also provided on the arm and are operatively connected to the plates for manually moving said plates to their open and closed positions. Conveniently, said hitch is provided with means urging said plates toward their closed position.

A pair of timberheads is also mounted on the bow and the stern of the barge. Each of said timberheads supports an end hitch comprising an arm having a pair of lock plates swingably mounted thereon. Each of said lock plates has a recess adjacent one of its ends, and said lock plates are swingable between a closed position in which their ends are disposed immediately adjacent each other and the recesses cooperate to define an opening adapted to extend around a timberhead on the bow or stem of an adjacent barge and a closed position in which the ends of said plates are disposed in spaced relation to each other. As with the side hitches, means are provided for urging the plates toward their closed position and for moving them between their open and closed positions.

Desirably, in order to permit the barge to be swung past and connected to adjacent barges of different drafts, the side hitch adjacent the bow on one side of the barge is higher than the side hitch on the opposite side of the barge and the other side hitch adjacent the stern on said one side of the barge is lower than the stern side hitch on said opposite side of the barge. And each end hitch is at substantially the same height as its adjacent side hitch.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a barge embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the barge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the side hitches shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the side hitch shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the end hitches shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a barge embodying the invention comprises a hull 10 having along each of its sides 'a pair of closely spaced, upwardly projecting timberheads 12 disposed adjacent the bow and a pair of closely spaced, upwardly projecting timberheads 14 adjacent the stern. As shown in FIG. 2, the timberheads 12 and 14 are set slightly inwardly from the outer sides of the hull 10. A plurality of side hitches 15 are mounted on upwardly projecting posts 16 adjacent each of the pairs of timberheads 12 and 14. Desirably, the side hitches on one side are located rearwardly of their adjacent timberheads and the side hitches along the opposite side are located forwardly of their adjacent timberheads to th us dispose the side hitches in a staggered arrangement along the sides of the barge.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of laterally spaced timberheads 16 and 17 are mounted on the bow and each supports an end hitch 18. In a like manner, a pair of laterally spaced timberheads 19 and 20 are mounted at the stern of the barge and support another pair of end hitches 18, Desirably, the timberheads 16- and 17 are in longitudinal "alignment with the timberheads 19 and 20.

As shown, the hitches 15 and 18 project outwardly from the hull. In order to permit the barge to be swung alongside of and/or moved in back of or in front of and connected to such other barges which may have different drafts, the forward side hitch 15 on one side of the barge and the adjacent bow end hitch 18 are disposed at a greater height above the hull than the forward side hitch 15 and adjacent bow end hitch 18 along the opposite side of the barge. The rearward side hitch 15 along the side having the higher forward side hitch is lower than the rearward side hitch on the opposite side of the barge with the adjacent stern end hitches 18 having substantially the same height as the adjacent rearward side hitches 15. In other words, the side and end hitches are at two difierent heights above the hull with the hitches and 18 adjacent one set of diagonal corners of the barge being at one height and the hitches 15 and 18 adjacent the other pair of diagonal corners of the barge being at a diiferent height. In this manner, the barge can be moved into positions adjacent to and be connected to other barges of different drafts Without striking the hitches on such other barges. Further, with the bow and stern timberheads in longitudinal alignment but in offset vertical relationship, a pair of barges can be interconnected in tandem by four end hitches. In a similar manner, a pair of barges can be connected together in a side by side relationship by four side hitches.

Each of the side hitches 15 is identical in construction, and as shown in FIGS. 3-5, each comprises an elongated arm 24 having an opening 25 at its inner end adapted to be swingably mounted on one of the posts 16. The opposite end of said arm terminates in a pointed head 26 having a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly presented arcuate recesses 28. Intermediate its length, arm 24 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting wings 30 having arcuate recesses 32 along their outer edges, said recesses having a radius of curvature slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the timberheads 12 and 14.

A pivot pin 34 carried in the arm 24 swingably mounts upper and lower lock plates 35 and 36 having generally opposed S-shaped configurations on said arm. Conveniently, an upwardly projecting annular rib 37 on arm 24 extends around pin 34 to support lock plate 36 to facilitate its rotation about the axis of pin 34. As shown, plate 35 has a pair of outwardly projecting fingers 38 having angulated outer edges 39, and arcuate recesses 40 formed along their inner edges. Plate 36 also is provided with outwardly projecting fingers 42 having angulated outer edges 43 and arcuate recesses 44 along their inner edges. The recesses 40 and 44 are disposed in opposed relation so that they define a generally circular opening when plates 35 and 36 are moved to their closed position shown in FIG. 3. As shown, with plates 35 and 36 in their closed position, the recesses 32 on the arm wings 30 extend slightly outwardly into the openings formed by the lock plate recesses 40 and 44, and the finger edges 39 and 43 define a pair of V-shaped notches at the sides of the hitch.

The plates 35 and 36 are movable between their closed position in which the outer ends of their fingers 38 and 42 are disposed closely adjacent each other and an open position in which the outer ends of said fingers are in spaced relation. As shown in FIG. 3, a stop lug 45 projects upwardly from arm 24 and rides in a slot -47 in plate 35 for limiting the opening movements of the plates. A slide 46 is movably carried in a guide 48 mounted on the arm 24 between the lock plates and the arm opening 25 and is connected to said plates by a pair of links 50 and 52, link 50 having one of its ends swingably mounted on a pin 53 on said slide and its opposite end swingably mounted on a pin 54 mounted on plate 35 and link 52 having one of its ends swingably connected to a pin 55 on said slide and its opposite end swingably mounted on a pin 56 on plate 36. Adjacent its rearward end, slide 46 is provided with a block 58 receiving a pivot pin 59 connecting said slide to an upwardly projecting handle 60. The handle 60 is connected by a pivot pin 61 to an upwardly projecting support 62 mounted on arm 24 and provided with a locking notch 64 in its upper edge adapted to receive a pin 65 on handle 60. Thus, manual opening and closing of the lock plates can be effected by moving the handle 60 about pivot pin 61 to cause slide 46 to move toward and away from said plates 36 whereby the links 50 and 52 will swing said plates about the axis of pin 34. Said plates can also be moved without use of the handle 60 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 3, plate 35 is provided with a notch 66 adapted to receive the forward end of slide 46 when the latter is moved toward said plate whereby said slide will releasably lock plates 35 and 36 in their closed position. Desirably, a spring 68 is mounted on pin 34 and is connected to the forward end of slide 46 to urge said slide into its locked position. Plates 35 and 36 are also urged toward their closed position by springs 70 and 72, spring 70 having one of its ends mounted on a pin 73 on plate 35 and its opposite end mounted on a pin 74 on arm 24 and spring 72 having one of its ends connected to a pin 75 on plate 36 and its opposite end connected to a pin 76 on arm 24.

In connecting the hitch shown in FIGS. 35 on one barge to the timberheads on an adjacent barge, one of the arm recesses 28 is disposed around one of the timberheads in one of the pairs of timberheads 12 or 14 on the adjacent barge and one of the openings defined by the plate recesses :40 and 44 is disposed around the other timberhead in such pair of timberheads. As previously described, the plates can be opened manually for the reception of the timberhead by merely moving the handle 60 forwardly to cause the slide 46 to disengage from plate 35 and the links 50 and 52 to pull the plates into their open position. Alternatively, the hitch can be swung into a position in which the timberhead bears against one set of the angled plate faces 39 and 43 to cam the lock plates open against the action of springs 66, 70, and 72. Said timberhead can then move inwardly between the open plates 35 and 36 until it abuts the adjacent wing recess 32. Once the timberhead has cleared the edges of the faces 39 and 43, the plates will be swung inwardly into their closed position by means. of the springs 68', 70, and 72, and with said plates in their closed positions, slide 46 will be received in the notch 66 for locking said plates in closed position around the timberhead.

Each of the end hitches 18 is identical in construction and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each such hitch comprises an arm 82 swingably mounted on one of the timberheads 16, 17, 19, or 20. Intermediate its length, said arm is provided with an outwardly projecting wing 83 having an arcuate recess 84* formed in its outer edge, said recess having a radius of curvature slightly less than the radius of curvature of any of the timberheads 16, 17, 19, and 20'. An arcuate bead 86 projects upwardly from arm 82 and supports a bottom lock plate 88 swingably carried on the timberhead carrying arm 82. The outer end of said plate comprises a finger 89 having an angulated outer edge 90 and an arcuate recess 92 formed in its inner edge. An upper lock plate 93 is carried on lock plate 88 and is also swingably mounted on the timberhead. The outer end of said lock plate comprises a finger 94 having an angulated outer edge 95 and an arcuate recess 96 formed in its inner edge. As with the plates on the side hitches, the recesses 92 and 96 are in opposed relation and the plates 88 and 93 are movable between, an open position in which the outer ends of their fingers are in spaced relation and a closed position shown in FIG. 6 in which their fingers are disposed adjacent each other and their recesses 92 and 94 define a timberhead receiving opening and the finger edges 90 and 95 define a V-shaped notch.

A slide 98 is movably carried in a guide 100 mounted on arm 82. Said slide is manually movable toward and away from the lock plates by a handle 102 swingably mounted as by a pin 103 to support 104 mounted on arm 82 and swingably connected by a pin 105 to a pivot block 106 mounted on the rear end of the slide. The slide is connected to plates 88 and 93 by links 108 and 110, link 108 having one of its ends swingably connected to a pin 111 on plate 88 and its opposite end swingably connected to a pin 112 on slide 9 8 and link having one of its ends swingably connected to a pin 113 on plate 93 and its opposite end swingably connected to a pin 114 on slide 98. Thus, movement of the handle 102 to move the slide away from the lock plates will cause links 108 and 110 to move said plates toward their open position, and movement of. the handle to move the slide toward the lock plates will cause said links to move said plates toward their closed position. Conveniently, plates 88 and 93 can be releasably locked in open position by a pin 116 on handle 102 receivable in a notch 118 in the upper face of the handle support plate 104, and said plates can be releasably locked in closed position by the forward end of slide 98 being received in a notch 119 formed in plate 93. In order to limit the opening movements 'of said plates, a stop lug 120 projects upwardly from arm 82 to ride in a notch 122 in plate 93 so that the end of said notch will abut the lug 120* to limit the opening movements of the lock plates.

As shown in FIG. 6, a spring 124 is mounted on the timberhead swingably supporting the arm and lock plates and is connected by a pin 125 to slide 98 for thus urging said slide toward the lock plates and urging said plates toward their closed position. Said plates are also urged toward closed position by springs 126 and 127, spring 126 being connected to plate 93 and arm 82 by pins 128 and 129 and a spring 127 being connected to a lug 132 on plate 88 and a pin 134 on arm 82.

In operation of the hitch shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the plates 88 and 93 can be manually opened by means of the handle 102- in order to permit a timberhead on the bow or stern of an adjacent barge to be received in the recesses 92 and 96. Alternatively, if the hitch is forced against such a timberhead, it will bear against the edges 90 and 95 on the lock plates to cam them open so that it will abut the wing recess 84. After the timberhead has cleared the edges of the faces 90 and 95, the locking members will be swung into their closed position by means of the springs 124, 126, and 127. As said plates are moved toward their closed positions, spring 124 will pull slide 98 into the locking notch 119 for releasably locking the plates around the timberhead.

If it is desired, the bow and stern timberheads 16, 17, 19 and 20 can be mounted on tracks (not shown) on the hull to facilitate connecting one bar-ge to another.

Although the side hitches 15 have been shown as being freely swingable about their mounting posts 16, it may be desirable to releasably retain them in outwardly projecting positions generally normal to the sides of the barge as by the use of springs, hydraulic cylinders, or the like.

While I have described the side and end hitches herein as being used to connect one barge to another, it is to be understood, of course, that said hitches can be employed for connecting a barge to any type of vessel or dock having suitable timberheads.

I claim:

1. A barge, comprising a hull having along each of its sides pairs of upwardly projecting timberheads adjacent its bow and stern, a side hitch swingably mounted on said hull adjacent each pair of timberheads adapted to lockingly engage a pair of timberheads on an adjacent barge, the side hitch adjacent the bow along one side of the hull being higher than the side hitch adjacent the bow on the other side of the hull and the side hitch adjacent the stern on said one side of the hull being lower than the side hitch adjacent the stern on said opposite side of the hull, and pairs of laterally spaced end hitches swingably mounted at the bow and stem of said hull adapted to lockingly engage timberheads at the bow and stem of a pair of adjacent barges, each end hitch being at substantially the same height as its adjacent side hitch.

2. A barge, comprising a hull, having pluralities of pairs of upwardly projecting timberheads along the sides and ends thereof, a side hitch adjacent each pair of timberheads along the barge sides adapted to lockingly engage a pair of timberheads on an adjacent barge, and laterally spaced end hitches at the bow and at the stern of said hull adapted to lockingly engage the timberheads at the bow and stern of a pair of adjacent barges, each of said side and end hitches comprising an elongated arm swingably connected adjacent its inner end to the barge, upper and lower lock plates swingably mounted on said arm and projecting laterally therefrom, each of said plates having a recess formed therein adjacent at least one of its ends, said plates being swingable between a closed position in which said one ends of said plates are immediately adjacent each other and said recesses cooperate to define an opening at one side of the arm receivable around a timberhead on an adjacent barge and an open position in which said one ends of said plates are spaced from each other, the arms on said side hitches having at least one recess formed adjacent their outer ends and on the same side of said arms as the openings formed by their plate recesses, and means operatively connected to said plates for moving them between their open and closed positions.

3. A barge hitch, comprising an elongated arm, upper and lower plates swingably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having at least one of its ends projecting laterally outwardly from said arm and having a recess formed therein adjacent said one end, said plates being swingable between a closed position in which said one ends of said plates are immediately adjacent each other and said recesses cooperate to define an opening extending through the hitch and an open position in which said one ends of said plates are spaced from each other, locking means releasably engageable with at least one of said plates for releasably locking said plates in closed position, and means operatively connected to said plates for moving them between their open and closed positions.

4. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 with the addition that said arm has at least one wing underlying said pair of plates, the outer end of said wing projecting partially under the opening defined by said plate recesses.

5. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 with the addition that said arm and one of said plates are provided with cooperating abutment means for limiting the movements of said plates toward their open position.

6. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 with the addition that said locking means is movable with said means for moving said plates between their open and closed positions for locking said plates in closed position upon movement of said means to move said plates into closed position.

7. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 in which said means for moving the plates between their open and closed positions comprises a slide slidably mounted on said arm, guide means on said arm for guiding the movements of said slide, a pair of links connected to said slide and plates, a pair of springs connected to said plates and arms, and means for moving said slide along said arm.

8. A barge hitch, comprising an elongated arm, upper and lower plates swingably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having a recess formed therein adjacent one of its ends, said plates being swingable between a closed position in which said one ends of said plates are immediately adjacent each other and said recesses cooperate to define an opening extending through the hitch and an open position in which said one ends of said plates are spaced from each other, and means for moving the plates between their open and closed positions comprising a slide movably mounted on said arm, a pair of links connected to said side and plates, a pair of springs connected to said plates and arm, a third spring interconnecting said plates and arm to said slide, and means for moving said slide away from said plates.

9. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 in which said locking means comprises a notch formed in one of said plates, and the end of the slide forming part of said means for moving the plates between their open and closed positions and receivable in said notch.

10. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 8 with the addition that said means for moving the slide comprises, a handle swingably connected to said slide and swingably mounted on a support mounted on said arm whereby movement of said handle will cause said slide to move said plates between their open and closed positions, said handle and support having cooperating means for releasably locking said handle in position to retain said plates in their open position.

11. A barge hitch, comprising an elongated arm having a pair of laterally spaced recesses formed therein adjacent one of its ends, a pair of wings projecting laterally from said arm intermediate the length thereof, upper and lower lock plates swingably mounted on said arm over said wings, said plates having opposed recesses formed therein adjacent their outer ends, said plates being swingable between a closed position in which their outer ends are immediately adjacent each other and their recesses form a pair of openings extending through the hitch and partially overlying said wings and an open position in which said outer ends of said plates are spaced from each other, and means operatively connected to said plates for moving them between their open and closed positions.

12. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 in which said plates are disposed transversely of said arm and have opposed generally S-shaped configurations with opposed recesses adjacent their outer ends whereby said recesses form a pair of openings on the opposite sides of said arm when said plates are in their closed position.

13. A barge hitch as set forth in claim 3 in which said arm has at least one recess formed therein adjacent one of its ends, said recess in said arm being on the same side of the arm as the opening formed by said plate recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,965 12/1957 Becker 280510 3,033,531 5/1962 Patterson et al. 114-235 X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

TRYGVE M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

